Research Fellow in Engineering Materials

Location: Highfield Campus

Fixed Term: Until 31/05/2025

Design and manufacturing of ultra-low/zero emission vehicles is the mission of the "Future of Mobility" Grand Challenge in the UK, accelerating a shift to "Clean Growth", and providing the UK with new economic opportunities. Light weighting is recognised as a route to reducing carbon emissions and improving fuel/battery efficiency. Therefore, designing high performance and low cost light alloys is in great demand for the automotive industry.

You will work within a research group led by Dr Dikai Guan on the UKRI funded project. The project will aim to develop novel high performance, resource efficient light alloys. The funding deadline is 31/05/2025, but it has a high chance to get this grant extended to another 3 years.

Both Research Fellows will be the main contributor to the research activities for correlating microstructure evolution with thermomechanical processing and mechanical properties and/or corrosion resistance responses, and  develop novel high performance light alloys efficiently. You will be responsible for manufacturing light alloys and thermomechanical processing. 

You are also expected to regularly apply for beamline time and use equipment at national and international facilities (e.g., Diamond Light Source, ESRF), as well as other sophisticated equipment that may become available.

You should have the relevant educational background or work experience in metals and alloys, namely: the processing of alloys; microstructure characterization using advanced electron microscopy, or micro-XCT, in/ex-situ synchrotron X-ray tomography or other related advanced techniques. You will have a good track record in carrying out independent and original scientific research, and publication of research papers. You should have the ability to work and communicate efficiently with other members of the team (supervisors, students and postdocs), and collaborators outside the University. Regular reports of research progress are required and research plans should be adjusted accordingly. Critical analysis of experimental results and problem solving skills are essential to this role. You will also be required to write research papers for publication in high impact research journals and attend/present at relevant conferences. There will be an opportunity to supervisor PhD and Master students as a secondary supervisor.  

Applicants are required to have a PhD, or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in materials science or a relevant discipline. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the ethos in the School of Engineering. We give full consideration to applicants who wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has onsite childcare facilities and we foster a good work-life balance. We also offer a mentorship programme and the school runs a women-oriented network event on a bi-weekly basis.

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. We are committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university.

For further information please contact Dr Dikai Guan ([email protected] ) 

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applicants who support our mission of inclusivity.

Apply by midnight on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on +44(0)2380 592750 or [email protected] quoting the job number.